Q1 - You're the Designer: If you had to design a popular mass-market T-shirt, what kind of design/message would you produce?
Q2 - Parlez-vous francais: Without looking it up, how many countries border France? Can you name them? Regardless of whether you can name them, do you think it's important for people to know the answer to this question or questions like this one?
Q3 - What he Said: Yesterday, during a press conference, President Bush fielded the following question from a reporter:
Mr. President, you've stressed over and over in recent days particularly the importance of keeping America safe, and yet you have not yet filled a key national security post--Homeland Security Advisor. Fran Townsend announced her resignation as Homeland Security Advisor months ago, in November. What is the delay there, and what are Americans to make of that delay? Is America less safe because of it?
The President's response:
We got a fine man named Joel Bagnal working that office right now. He's a professional. I trust his judgment. He's a real good guy. And no, they shouldn't worry about Joel. He knows what he's doing. Joel Bagnal has occupied the position. He's doing the job, and I've got confidence in him. And so should the American people have confidence in him. He's a fine professional. He knows what he's doing. And I'm very comfortable in saying, on your cameras, that our staff in the White House, led by Joel Bagnal, knows what they're doing when it comes to advising the President on matters of homeland security.
Apparently, the Homeland Security Advisor position is one that needs to be officially appointed by the President, yet he hasn't done so. Knowing only what you just read, do you find the President's response to the reporter's question (as well as his handling of the matter) acceptable?
Q4 - Cell Phone Plan: Recently, Verizon announced a new cell phone calling plan that allows customers to place an unlimited number of calls anywhere in the U.S. at anytime of the day for $99 per month. Within hours of announcing the new plan, several other cell phone providers matched Verizon's price and terms. Taking into consideration how much you pay for your current cell phone plan (assuming you have one), what do you think of the $99 rate plan?
Q1 - Human Nature: The new season of "Big Brother" (a popular reality television show on CBS) already has more than its share of controversies. One guy has been accused of being a racist; one woman has been called a whore; another was called the "c" word, over and over, loudly; one man referred to autistic people as "retards"; one couple is pretending to be lesbians; one woman revealed that her dad committed suicide, only to later have a roommate tell her to "go hang yourself." Regardless of whether you watch the particular television show in question, can all of this be good for the television viewing audience (that these issues are raised)? Or is it just shameless provocation? Is human nature really this bad?
Q2 - Foreign Relations: Three days after stepping down as Cuban leader, Fidel Castro is calling on the United States to change its longtime policy of sanctions toward Cuba. Do you think the United States should lift its embargo on Cuba?
Q3 - Stamp It: Earlier this week, the U.S. Postal Service immortalized novelist Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896-1953), best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling, and her memoir Cross Creek In the foreground of the stamp art is a portrait of Kinnan Rawlings based on an undated photograph. The background depicts a fawn at a watering hole in the Florida scrub, which is consistent with descriptions in The Yearling. Who, if anyone, would you like to see immortalized on a postage stamp, and what imagery would you suggest including on the stamp?
Q4 - Lineage: How far back can you trace your family's lineage?
I'm not exactly sure when this occurred, but recently, about 200 people from an improv group called Improv Everywhere came to a complete halt in New York City's Grand Central Station for five minutes, amusing some while others apparently didn't even notice. From Improv Everywhere's blog:
On a cold Saturday in New York City, the world's largest train station came to a sudden halt. Over 200 Improv Everywhere Agents froze in place at the exact same second for five minutes in the Main Concourse of Grand Central Station. Over 500,000 people rush through Grand Central every day, but today, things slowed down just a bit as commuters and tourists alike stopped to notice what was happening around them. Enjoy the video...
Q1 - Prescription Drugs: Unless you've been living under a rock these past few weeks, you know that actor Heath Ledger tragically died earlier this month of an accidental prescription drug overdose. Despite the fact that doctors and pharmacists are drilled in the art of explaining to their patients and customers exactly how to take prescription drugs, far too many people--a lot of them actors--still get it wrong and accidentally over or wrongly medicate themselves. Have you ever become sick because of drugs your prescribed by a doctor, or have you ever accidentally over medicated yourself?
Q2 - Advice: What advice would you give to a young boy or girl who expresses a sincere interest in becoming President of the United States?
Q3 - The Sky Is Falling: Taking a page from Hollywood science fiction, the U.S. government said yesterday it will try its darnedest to shoot down a broken down, bus-size U.S. spy satellite that's on a collision course with Earth. The Pentagon hopes to smash the satellite as soon as next week--just before it enters Earth's atmosphere--with a single missile fired from a Navy boat in the Pacific Ocean. Do you have faith that the Navy will succeed in hitting the satellite, which will be about 150 to 175 miles above the Earth's surface when the shot is fired?
Q4 - Spam: Which do you find more annoying... email spam or snail mail junk mail?
Q1 - Economy: Do you think the U.S. economy will improve, worsen or stay the same upon the election of the next President?
Q2 - Interviewing: Have you ever had a really bad job interview? If so, what happened? If not, can you recall the best or worst interview question you've ever asked or been asked? If not, what's one question you would like to ask a potential employer during a job interview but would not (for fear of not getting the job)?
Q3 - Women: How would you feel if a woman became President of the United States of America?
Q4 - How Long: Give this a try (not to worry, a new window will open and it is work-safe): Click on this link, read the ensuing instructions, try the exercise at least three times, and report back on your best result. Good luck!
A friend from Colorado just sent me this account of what it was like to participate in a Presidential caucus:
I went to my Democratic caucus last night. I thought it was cool to see all these people pouring into this elementary school--men, women, old, young, white, black, Hispanic--democracy at its most fundamental.
There were caucuses for 6 Democratic and 2 Republican precincts, and the place was packed. There were 73 people at mine--73 big people camped into a room made for 15 little people. They said that in 2004 they had 3 people show up for the caucus. For all of Colorado I heard that 120,000 -150,000 (depending on the news outlet) turned out last night, compared to 15,000 in 2004.
It took a very long time for everyone to sign in because they required more than just your name on the registration sheet. And only one person at a time could be signing in.
First, they read the rules, which literally took about 10 minutes.
Next we elected a chairperson and secretary. There were two people there that had been trained and wanted to do it so that was easy.
Strawpoll election with all of the people that have ever declared their candiacy even if they have withdrawn: 37 for Hillary; 33 for Obama; 1 for Richardson; and, 3 uncommitted. There was one person I had literally never heard of. We voted by raising our hands and then lowering them as we counted off.
It was suggested and voted on that two people would be allowed to speak for each candidate for one minute.
After five people spoke, someone suggested that anyone that wanted to talk could do so. That was voted down by a big margin.
The final vote: Hillary-38, Obama-35. Then, using a convoluted equation, 8 delegates were awarded to Hillary and 8 to Obama (who I voted for).
Then they started the process of electing delegates to the county caucus which elects delegates to the state caucus which then elects delegates to the National Convention.
I left at this point because I had cast my vote and didn't want to be a delegate.
Q1 - Crime: Is there a crime, which if it wasn't illegal, you would gladly commit?
Q2 - Immigration: According to recent figures, the conflict in Iraq has forced over 2,000,000 Iraqi citizens to fee the country. Most are stuck in limbo in neighboring countries like Syria and Jordan, while a few (up to 12,000 for the year 2008) are allowed to seek asylum here in the United States. Given our government and military's actions in Iraq, do you think we should open our boarders to more Iraqi refugees or is 12,000 enough?
Q3 - Donations: Have you ever donated money to a presidential candidate? If so, looking back on your donation, do you think it was money well spent? Related: Have you donated--or do you plan on donating--money to someone running for the Presidency this time around?
Q4 - Keys: How many keys are on your keychain, and do you know what all of them are for?
